By Chuck Graham, TucsonStage.com
photo by Tim Fuller
From left, Jeffrey Baden, Julia Balestracci, Lance Guzman and Evan Werner,
Celebrate the waning days of COVID and the blooming of springtime by taking in the bouncy Rogue Theatre production of Shakespeare's summer romance, “As You Like It.”
Carley Elizabeth Preston is a sly delight as the defiantly cross-dressing Rosalind.
Believing (in Shakespeare's words) that treacherous highwaymen value beauty more than treasure, Rosalind dresses like a man and takes the name of mythological Ganymede, seeking to be as unattractive as possible.
Of course the joke is on Rosalind. Even wearing male garments she still attracts the fancy of strangers; this time it is another young woman – awkward!
Truly charming in timeless Shakespearean fashion is Rosalind's meeting in the Forest of Arden with the improperly disinherited Orlando (Aaron Shand), a natural athlete whose innocence in matters of love finds him searching in vain for his one true heart, Rosalind.
Alas, she has disappeared into this same fanciful forest and can't be found. So clever is Rosalind's disguise as Ganymede, Orlando doesn't realize she is actually his new woodsy buddy Ganymede. Delighted, this Ganymede offers to teach Orlando the best way to woe Rosalind (should he ever find her).
Suffice it to say, Preston and Shand as the star-crossed lovers in “As You Like It” have a natural chemistry worthy of a long-running TV sit-com. She is the clever one, while he's a little dopey, but stalwart and strong of heart.
With a committed cast of 14 players to represent Shakespeare's' full house of oddball characters and 16th century eccentrics, Cynthia Meier directs this production with a balanced and careful precision worthy of a circus ringmaster, keeping the action clear and spunky.
The audience favorite on opening night was deliberately over-the-top court jester Touchstone (Evan Werner) and his enthusiastically amorous Audrey (Julia Balestracci). Their big stage moment doesn't come until near the end, making it a crackling nightcap of hilarity.
Also earning personality kudos is Erin Buckley as Phoebe, the hapless shepherdess who actually falls in love with Ganymede, literally throwing herself at his feet.
Adding strength in important supporting parts are Bryn Booth as Celia, the cousin of Rosalind, and Christopher Johnson as Oliver, the selfish older brother of Orlando.
Shakespeare includes the lyrics for several songs in “As You Like It.” Providing music direction and composing several pastoral airs to fit the lyrics in the spirit of those times is Rogue favorite Russell Ronnebaum. He also arranged parts for harp (played by Michelle Gott), cello (played by Robert Marshall) and flute (played by Zach Warren) that feel completely authentic.
The music is pre-recorded, as is all the dialogue. The Rogue's innovative concept of pre-recording each of their productions, then having the actors wear masks and full costumes to “act out” their parts, is proving itself brilliant throughout the season.
When the playwright happens to be Shakespeare, the unusual technique actually adds another positive dimension to the centuries-old sentence structure of the Bard's work. Each recorded voice comes out crystal clear, evenly paced and more easily understood by modern ears.
Now all the parts, whether major roles or off-beat sidelights, are given equal emphasis. None are lost or overshadowed.
This makes for a fuller play-going experience – as all the nuances of court intrigue faced by Orlando and Oliver, as well as those homeless Robin Hood sort of folk who live in the Forest of Arden, get equal attention.
“All the world's a stage,” declares Jacques (Joseph McGrath), and in the Rogue's production all the players can be heard loud and clear.
“As You Like It” runs 2:25, with intermission, through May 16 with 7:30 p.m. performances Thursdays-Saturdays, plus 2 p.m. matinees Saturdays-Sundays at the Rogue Theatre, 300 E. University Blvd. Tickets are $42, students $15.
The Rogue Theatre is following all COVID precautions, offering in-theater and online ticketing. All tickets must be purchased in advance. Visit theroguetheatre.org or phone 520-551-2053.
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